Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. Yesterday the Minister for Defence warned the now independent member for Chisholm, Julia Banks, that she would 'face the consequences of her actions'. Will the minister rule out retaliations against the now Independent member for Chisholm?

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator McCarthy for her question. I'm not aware of those statements.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McCarthy, a supplementary question?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In her statement to the House of Representatives yesterday, the now Independent member for Chisholm, Ms Banks, called for the ability to report 'misconduct of those in power without fear of reprisal or retribution'. Are the threats made by Minister Pyne the kind of reprisal and retribution that Ms Banks was referring to?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Macdonald on a point of order?

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How can that possibly be a question relating to the Defence portfolio, and how can it possibly be a question that anyone could answer except the person who allegedly made those comments?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong on the point of order?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think it's well established that statements by ministers are relevantly the subject of questions at question time. This minister is representing the Minister for Defence. These are questions relating to public statements made by the Minister for Defence, and this is a question about what they meant.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order, it's longstanding practice that ministers can be asked about public statements made. In this case, it is a public statement of a minister who is represented in this chamber. That is also in order. With respect to your comment about the ability of a minister to answer a question, questioners are to take that into account when writing their questions. Obviously there are limitations on the ability of people to answer on behalf of others. I call Senator Payne.

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I make two points. I don't have the advantage of having the statements in front of me to which Senator McCarthy is referring. Certainly one would always wish, in a workplace and more broadly, that if, concerns need to be raised in relation to behaviours or other matters, then they can be raised in an appropriate way without fear or, frankly, favour. I would make that observation. Secondly, again, not having seen the statements to which Senator McCarthy has referred, I can say that as sentient adults, by and large, in this place, we all face the consequences of our actions.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McCarthy, a final supplementary question?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

One coalition MP has told Patricia Karvelas that sometimes he 'wishes a no-confidence motion were successful to put us out of our misery early and force a general election'. When will Mr Morrison do his MPs a favour, put them out of their misery and call an election?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Macdonald on a point of order?

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This question asks the defence minister what Mr Morrison, as Prime Minister, might do or not do. It's clearly addressed to the wrong person. It's not a supplementary of the previous question. I ask you to rule it out of order.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cormann on the point of order?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just adding to the point of order, clearly this question does not relate to any statements that were made by ministers, so I strongly support the proposition that this question should be ruled out of order.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order, Senator Wong?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If the government doesn't wish to rule out a coalition MP asking for an early election to put them out of their misery, so be it.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order, respectfully, this was not a supplementary question. It did not, in any way, refer to the substance of the first or second question or an answer given by the minister to either of those questions. However, I have previously stated that, even when questions are not in order, so as to not create an incentive for statements to be made without the minister having an opportunity to respond, I will invite the minister to respond if they have anything to say to the question, despite it not being in order.

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Coming from the side that talks about its own leadership as 'lobotomised zombies', that's pretty rich. Nevertheless, let me tell you what the Prime Minister will be talking to Australians about when we go to the election. He'll be talking about the fact Australia's economy is growing at 3.4 per cent, more strongly than at any other time since 2012. He'll be talking about us meeting our promise of the creation of one million new jobs by businesses in this country, supported by government. He'll be talking about the fact more Australians are finding jobs and that the percentage of working-age Australians on welfare has fallen to 15.1 per cent—the lowest rate of welfare dependency in over 25 years. He'll be talking about the fact that we're making income taxes lower, fairer and simpler—

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Payne, please resume your seat. Senator Macdonald is on his feet on a point of order.

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order: I can barely hear the minister sitting in front of me. I heard Senator Wong's pious remarks this morning about courtesy and manners in this chamber. I listened to her intently. She has not stopped shouting at the Minister for Defence. I usually try to stop her, but I have taken notice of what you've said, Mr President, so I intend to call a point of order every time Senator Wong breaches standing orders and interjects continuously on ministers that they've asked questions of.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We've had a request from a senator who could not hear a minister answering a question. This is not an uncommon request in this chamber, so I would ask all senators to keep that in mind and have some courtesy for their colleagues. Senator Reynolds, did you have a point of order?

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In furtherance to Senator Macdonald's point of order: I'm sitting right behind the minister and I couldn't hear a word she was saying. However, I did hear Senator Wong refer to the minister not in accordance with her title. I think, in accordance with what you said this morning, due respect needs to be paid and the correct title should be used.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You've reminded all—Senator Wong, on the point of order?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm sorry I called her 'Marise', but I often do call her 'Marise', and it was across the chamber. If you want me to call her 'Senator Payne' or 'Minister', I'm happy to do so. It's interesting that that's the issue you wish to take a point of order on, not what Senator O'Sullivan said, Senator Reynolds.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! It's going to be a long afternoon if it starts like this. I call Senator Payne to continue her answer.

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying, the Prime Minister will be taking the message to the electorate that we are making taxes lower, fairer and simpler, that we have delivered tax relief for 3.3 million businesses in this country, that we are ensuring less red tape and that we are determining that Australians have more affordable energy and a whole range of other things. (Time expired)